The Beslan school hostage crisis of early September 2004 was a three-day hostage-taking Ingush and Chechen terrorists of over 1,100 people (including 777 children) which ended in the death of over 340. The hostage-taking occured at School in the town of Beslan, North Ossetia, an autonomous republic in the North Caucasus, region of the Russian Federation. On the third day of the standoff, Russian security forces stormed the building, using tanks, incendiary rockets, and other heavy weapons. A series of explosions shook the school, followed by a fire which engulfed the building and a chaotic gun battle between the hostage-takers and Russian security forces. Ultimately, at least 334 hostages were killed, including 186 children; hundreds more were injured and many were reported missing